The Mountain West Conference (or MWC), the youngest of the College Athletic Conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I-A, officially began operations in July 1999. Geographically, the MWC covers a broad expanse of the western United States, with member institutions located in California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

Charter members included Air Force, Brigham Young, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV, Utah, and Wyoming. Prior to banding together to form the Mountain West Conference, all of the charter members had been aligned with the Western Athletic Conference.

Members (and year joined)

• United States Air Force Academy (1999)
• Brigham Young University (1999)
• Colorado State University (1999)
• University of New Mexico (1999)
• San Diego State University (1999)
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas (1999)
• University of Utah (1999)
• University of Wyoming (1999)

In 2005, Texas Christian University will leave Conference USA and join the Mountain West.

The MWC sponsors championships in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's golf, skiing, women's soccer, swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis, women's volleyball, football, softball, outdoor track and cross country. Many of its member schools participate in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation for sports not sponsored by the Mountain West Conference.

External link

• Official Athletic Site of the Mountain West Conference